The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Found a sweeeeeet looking puppy on the internet (I know, not the best place to buy, but I was just looking). The seller (who initially bought her to breed but decided against it eventually) wants to sell her because she already has 3 other dogs. She says this one is likely to be around 12 pounds? Something about her friend breeds "small" cockers. Never heard of that before, but my Gertie was a runt who averaged about 20-22 pounds fully grown, so if she's going by her size now (4 months old) I'm not too concerned. She's a sweet looking girl and, after having my Gertie, if there's a chance she's going to be a mutant too, must be fate that I found her. LOL Any input?

Please don't fall for that internet sale of dogs. Why would you want a 12 lb cocker? If you want a smaller dog, perhaps consider a different breed, i.e. cavalier, rat terrier, etc. If you aren't sure what you are searching for, perhaps the local rescue can assist you.

Rose: Please don't take this the wrong way because I don't intend to be judgmental with what I'm going to say. It sounds like this person is not near you - but I'm just assuming that. With all of the problems you had with Gertie's skin and overall health, wouldn't you want to know a little bit more about a breeder than to buy a dog, sight unseen, over the internet and potentially have the same type of problem because of poor breeding? I have had byb dogs in the past, but I've been able to go to the breeder to actually see the parents and the litter so that I had SOME sense of what I was getting. I mostly got lucky, but both of them had health problems in old age. It sounds like you have already fallen in love with this little one, but if you can't go there in person to see the dog, try to at least get some recommendations from people who have her dogs. The "seller" should give you her "friend's" name if she is a reputable breeder.

Because they're so tiny, these dogs have fragile bones that can easily break. It's easy to step or sit on one. A responsible owner needs to supervise teacup dogs 24/7. Their small size alone creates constant danger from things falling on them to other pets in the home. Many will have congenital and genetic health concerns. Respiratory problems, heart problems, digestive problems, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), problems with the trachea collapsing or a permanent soft spot on their head caused by the cranial bone not completely forming. Dislocation of the knees, water accumulating on the brain, blindness, seizures, deformities, Leg-Calve Perthes disease (a degenerative disease of the hip joint) portosystemic shunts (an abnormal vessel also called a liver shunt. The dog's circulatory system bypasses the liver which is where the blood is cleaned). Their internal organs can be underdeveloped and their small mouth size has trouble accommodating all of their adult teeth which can lead to dental problems. Teacup dogs use up a lot of energy and calories just trying to keep their body temperature normal and can become malnourished even though they're well fed. A simple bout of diarrhea can leave them dehydrated which can be life threatening.

Buyer beware of breeders who guarantee their teacup puppies will be tiny. No caring and responsible breeder will make that promise because a dog's adult size can't be determined when they're still a pup. Size depends on genetics and you can get an idea of how big a puppy will be by looking at their parents and grandparents and knowing what the breed standard is for a specific breed.

I'm going to say this because holding it in gives me a stomach ache. I am all for ethical breeders but I have a huge issue with mini or "teacup". Namely that there is NO SUCH THING. There are small dogs bred to small dogs or runts bred to produce small dogs who may or may not be healthy because of their size or poor genetics. Check the problems with teacup breeding to see what happens when you breed too small. And yet people still are breeding and selling. Good cocker breeders breed to meet breed standard and produce sound, healthy dogs. I'd not fall for the "small cocker needs a home line." Bad breeders breed to feed on the popular trend and the money it brings, i.e. miniature dogs. Buying more dogs from them just gives them more space to breed. If it's a matter of size then get a dog that's naturally a different size.


http://voices.yahoo.com/teacup-puppies-buyer-beware-hidden-financial-health-6311618.html?cat=53

IF they register the dog it's through an alternate listing since the size isn't recognized which is another huge red flag. Save yourself the heartache and hazzards and rescue from a reputable source, not a bad breeder trying to make space.